asked the Minister for Education why more than 20 school children from Cushina, Portarlington, County Offaly, have to walk over two miles to a pick-up point to be taken to Portarlington national school in view of the fact that one of the children involved is mentally handicapped.
Written Answers. - School Bus Service.
136.
The Portarlington schools transport service from the Cushina area was curtailed to Cushina Cross in order to avoid the continued encroachment on the Walsh Island school district. The children unduly affected by this curtailment belong to the Walsh Island district and have transport facilities to Portarlington as an exceptional matter. At present there is no suitable turning point— other than an encroachment on the Walsh Island area—nearer to the children than Cushina Cross. Pending an investigation of whether such can be provided, I have directed that the service resume its former route until the summer holidays.